@ Sunday Times Books LIVE

Barbara Erasmus, author of Below Luck Level, has shared a short story about the pitfalls of online dating on her website. Titled “Blog”, the story follows a recently divorced woman who seems to be sliding into a depression, and is looking for some company. She searches the internet for potential dates, sets up a profile and finds perhaps a little more than she bargained for…

I’m early.

I slide into the parking slot selected during my daylight survey of the prospective hunting ground. My quarry will be clearly visible when he walks up to the designated wine-bar. I have contingency plans to fade into the darkness if he doesn’t look as appealing as he did in his photograph. Thank God I had the foresight not to include one of myself. He won’t know who I am, even if he catches a glimpse of me lurking in the shadows. I couldn’t bear it if he was the one to turn away in disappointment. I look at my watch. Still ten minutes until the appointed hour. It seems like an eternity. I don’t know whether to sue Woolworths or Blogdate for reducing me to this state of teenage angst.